My term paper is precisely about this (I'm doing Major in Biology here in Brazil). Although I didn't finish the work (okay, there's some "trade secret"), I would give some recommendations (because I had some success in the past... well, this profile pic is mine, really, my lovely artemias in 2014-2015):
> For substrate I would use aragonite or dolomite: the substrate will provide calcium for your artemias since they also need to molt;
> For light, I would use good lighting, with a photoperiod from 8h to 12h daily. If you have indirect sunlight, it will help. Direct sunlight should also work, but don't let the tank get so hot;
Since you live in US, any salt for reef tanks should work (aquarium salt here in Brazil's extremely expensive). Elements such as magnesium are also important for the tank, available in these salts or in items such as Epsom salt, as well as being provided by the dolomite. I even used coarse salt (for barbecue, with iodine) and at least I got several adult artemias. The pH should be alkaline (and the substrate will help to buffer it) and the temperature depends on the strain (if's from the GSL, SFB, Brazil, China, Vietnam, etc.), because even the
Artemia franciscana has some local adaptations, because the artemias suffered several pressures from the environment.
The salinity of 35 ppt should be okay, although artemias are tolerant to hypersaline environments. You can use tap water with a good conditioner, seawater, or distilled/RO water with the salt you chose.
About water changes, there's not a consensus about it, but the brine shrimp are extremely tolerant to nitrogen compounds. The sponge filter's good because it's unable to hurt even nauplii (I would use gentle aeration).
Well, for references, I would recommend checking
this material. I consider Patrick Sorgeloos the best author for anything related to brine shrimp.
I hope I helped you.
